Category Archives: Medical Events

Abstract books of the First Scientific Day of the Karak Governmental Hospital 2014

Yesterday, I had the honor of being a participant in the first scientific day of the Karak Governmental hospital. I was not only a member of the organizing committee, but also, a speaker in one paper, and co-author in two others. The event was under the patronage of the minister of Health, Dr. Ali Hiasat. However, he could not come and sent the Head of the Directorate of Health of Karak Governorate, Dr. Haitham Al-Mohesen. The event was organized with the help of the Jordanian Hematology Society headed by Prof. Abdullah Abbadi. The president of Mutah University, Prof. Rida Khawaldeh, and Prof. Zouhair Ammarin, the dean of the faculty of Medicine at Mutah University attended the inauguration ceremony.

From the second person in the right side of the photo: Prof. Abdullah Abbadi, President of the Jordanian Society of Hematology, Prof. Rida Khawaldeh, President of Mutah University, and Dr. Zouhair Ammarin, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Mutah University.

This was the first time ever for the Karak Governmental hospital to organize a scientific day. I was lucky enough that this coincided with my being an intern in this hospital. Five of my fellow interns and I were given the chance to present three researches of ours. I certainly thank Dr. Zakaria Al-Nawaiseh, the Manger of the Karak Governmental and the President of the scientific day. I also thank Dr. Hani Al-Hamaidah, the head of the scientific committee and the dean of the faculty of Pharmacy at Mutah University.

The schedule

Dr. Zakaria Al-Nawiseh, the Manger of the Karak Governmental and the President of the scientific day: Certainly, he will be remembered for having organized the first scientific day in the history of Karak Governmental hospital!

Dr. Hani Al-Hamaidah, the head of the scientific committee and the dean of the faculty of Pharmacy at Mutah University.

Prof. Abdullah Abaddi while giving his lecture about Stems Cells in Jordan

My role in the organizing committee was to design and prepare the abstract book of the scientific day. Yes, it took me a lot of time. However, I learnt many new techniques in Microsoft Word, and gained a considerable experience on how to organize a schedule and deal with a lot of abstracts. The organizing company of the event, “Around the World Company for Conferences”, actually added the very beautiful upper and lower margins for each page. Also, they designed a cover pages of the abstract book. I was really impressed by this company, not only because of the previous, but also by the overall professional organization of the scientific day. Thank you! I wrote my name at the end page of the book and I put an ad to my facebook page Medical Conferences in Jordan(to keep updated with medical conferences in Jordan). The company did not remove it. However, they used a new design for the cover page.

My design for the Cover Page of the Abstract Book of The First Scientific Day of the Karak Governmental Hospital:

This is the abstract of the paper that I presented:

Did finishing the psychiatry clerkship improve the attitudes of medical students at Mutah University toward Psychiatry?

1 Interns, Ministry of Health, Jordan.2Fifth-year medical student, Mutah University, Karak, Jordan.3 Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.*Sixth-year medical students at Mutah University at the time this study was conducted

Background: Countries around the world, especially low- to middle-income ones, face a shortage of psychiatrists. Psychiatry has always been an unfavorable specialty for many medical students. Several studies have confirmed that psychiatry training and exposure is associated with the development or increase of positive attitudes toward psychiatry Objective: To investigate if the fifth-year psychiatry clerkship is associated with an improvement of the attitudes of medical students toward psychiatry. Methods: A total of 200 4th-, 5th-, and 6th-year medical students participated in our study. Of the sample, 102 (51.0%) were females, and 98 (49.0%) were males. Our study questionnaire included the Attitudes toward Psychiatry-30 items (ATP-30) scale. This is a commonly used and validated scale for assessing the attitudes of medical students toward psychiatry. Results: Analysis showed that there is a positive and statistically significant increase in the ATP-30 mean score of students after finishing the psychiatry clerkship (t= -2.277, p=0.024). This statistical significance in the increase of positive attitudes was found among male students (t=-3.070, 0.003) but not among female students (t=-0.121, p=0.904). Conclusions: Like many researches from countries around the world, our results showed that having finished the psychiatry rotation was associated with the development of positive attitudes toward psychiatry. Our research identified some of the negative attitudes and misconceptions that students have about psychiatry. By identifying and addressing them in the future, we hope that this will translate into more positive attitudes of our students toward psychiatry. Indirectly, we hope that this will translate to more students choosing psychiatry as a specialty. Keywords:psychiatry, attitudes, medical students.

The first slide in my presentation: Did finishing the psychiatry clerkship improve the attitudes of medical students at Mutah University toward Psychiatry?

Systemic hypertension is a major public health problem worldwide. It is a leading factor for coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, stroke, renal disease, and retinopathy. This study aimed to explore hypertension complications among hospitalized hypertensive patients. Also, it aimed to identify the treatment of hypertension employed by these patients and compare the incidence of complications among different treatment groups. Our study was a cross-sectional study that we conducted at Al-Karak and Al-Bashir Governmental Teaching Hospitals in the period from October 2011 till March 2013. Our sample consisted of 162 patients; 96 males (59%) and 66 females (40.7%). Age of patients ranged from 40-100 years (mean of 65± 12.0 years). The percentages of patients on mono-, double-, triple-, and quadruple-therapy were 44.4%, 34.6%, 17.3%, and 3.7% respectively. Diuretics were the most commonly used drugs in 107 patients (35%), followed by ACEI/ARBS (86 patients, 28.2%), BBs (80 patients, 26.2%), and CCBs (32, 10.5%). More males than females were on mono- and double-therapy (84.4% v.s.71.2%). Of the patients on monotherapy (72 patients, 44.4%), the most common drug used is a loop diuretic (27 patients, 37.5%) followed by ACEIs/ARBs (22 patients, 30.6%). The prevalence of complications in patients on monotherapy was higher in patients with loop diuretics )26 patients, 38.2%) than patients on ACEIs/ARBs (19 patients, 27.0%) or BB (19 patients, 27.0%). The most common double therapy combination was a ACEI/ARB and BB (28.6%), followed by Loop & BB (26.8%). The most common triple therapy combination was a loop diuretic, ACE, and BB (28.6%). The most common complication in patients on monotherapy was Angina/ACS (29 patients, 42.6%), followed by CV/TIA (20 patients, 29.4%). The most common complications in patients on double therapy was Angina/ACS (20 patients, 36.4%), followed by decompensated HF (18 patients, 32.7%). The most common complication in patients on triple therapy was decompensated HF (10 patients, 37.0%) followed by CVATIA (8 patients, 29.5%). It is concluded that the prevalence of hypertensive complications decreases as the number of antihypertensive drugs taken increases although the type of complication is not significantly changed.

I had the honor of attending a lecture by a French American Professor called Jean Decety from the University of Chicago. The lecture took place in the building of the Jordan Society of Scientific Research (JSSR) in Amman on Wednesday, 11/09/2013 (If you want to keep updated with the activities of the JSSR, here is a link to their facebook page). The title of the lecture of Prof. Decety was:

The topic of the lecture seemed strange to me. For minutes, I thought of not attending this lecture. Firstly, I could not imagine about what this lecture would be. Secondly, I did not know how important Prof. Decety is. Nonetheless, because I trusted my friend who recommended this lecture for me (Thank you Dr. Ali Alfar) and because I am interested in psychiatry my possible future specialty, then I googled the name of Prof. Decety. Quickly, I discovered that there is a detailed Wikipedia page about Prof. Decety. Can anyone have a detailed wikipedia page? I also found multiple articles mentioning him. Therefore, I decided quickly to attend because I thought that I would benefit something from this lecture no matter how boring the topic turned out to be.

A friend of mine and I decided to go to this lecture. My friend is also interested in psychiatry. We arrived a few minutes before the lecture started. Prof. Decety then arrived. From the first few minutes, I could deduce that he is a jolly person, funny, and to my relive, that I would not bored by the “weird” lecture that was to come.

The lecture started with Prof. Decety talking a little bit about his family (From my short experience in attending conferences, this is something usual with western doctors). Prof. Decety explained briefly about the research center in which he works “The University of Chicago Social Cognitive Neuroscience Lab (SCNL).” Prof. Decety is the head of this center. This information really impressed me because Prof. Decety is French. He had his Bachelor degree, three master degrees, and PhD in France [1]. Nonetheless, Prof. Decety’s un-American origin did not prevent the University of Chicago from appointing him as a head of a research center as important as the SCNL. What matters are qualifications! This reminded me of multiple articles that spoke about how the USA attracts scientists from all over the world. Why would not it? Is not the story of Prof. Decety an excellent example why this occurs?

As the topic of the lecture became more and more clear to me, I started enjoying the multiple researches about which Prof. Decety spoke. I was impressed a lot with a sentence that Prof. Decety used to describe himself: “I am an Evolutionary Psychologist.” I have never heard about a branch of science with that name. However, it was not hard for me to expect what this branch of study is about: Explaining pychology in view of evolution! [Here is a wikipedia article about Evolutionary Psychology]! This is very amazing! I love evolution and I think it is very logical to use it to explain biology. It turned out that it can also explain “psychology”… Those atheistic infidels!

Prof. Jean Decety, with active use of body language, answering the audience questions.

From the very first minutes of the lecture, Prof. Decety mentioned the “taboo” of evolution. An attending student raised his hand and asked a question that initially appeared to be related to the lecture’s topic. Nonetheless, because I come from this society, I knew from the beginning that it was a matter of the speaker wanting to prove that evolution is wrong. The questions did not stop and were more and more indirectly revolving about the correctness of Evolution. It is really a pity that many of the people around me still discuss whether evolution is correct or not! The world is way ahead of us. I do not think that this should be a topic of discussion anymore. The debate increased and another student joined. It was then consuming a lot of time that Dr. Dajani finally intervened and said (something like): “The discussion is now about Evolution and it will not end! Evolution is compatible with religion. Some think that it is not. Here at the society we will have a lecture that shows the compatibility of evolution with religion. Let us continue the lecture.” The lecture finally resumed!

Religious explanations are so wide! I really do not understand how accepting evolution contradicts the belief in God! // Source: religifake.com

Prof. Decety then explained about multiple studies. Of interest, Prof. Decety talked about the findings that the hormone oxytocin increased empathy. Prof. Decety then suggested jokingly, but also, almost seriously as of someone really concerned:

“Some studies show that the hormone oxytocin increase empathy in human beings” Prof. Jean Decety, the University of Chicago.

I did not feel the time pass before the lecture ended. At his last slide, Prof. Decety had put the links of the facebook pages of his two lab: The SCNL and the Child Neuro Suite. He asked if we could like it (The link for the SCNL is here and the link to the Child Neuro Suite is here). Next, the audience asked some questions and Prof. Decety happily answered them.

Next, I smiled a lot when I saw Prof. Decety holding a camera. What made me smile was that Prof. Decety was more interested to take photos more than the audience members who wanted to be photographed with him. When I saw the situation like this, I happily asked my friend [Thank you Dr. Fadi Walid Farah] to take a photo of me with Prof. Decety. Here I am now publishing it proudly (I hope that Prof. Decety does not mind that).

Like this:

Today, with Dr. Andrew Ordon at the Children of War Foundation Symposium – Amman 2013, King Hussein Medical Center, Amman, Jordan.

Dr. Andrew is a volunteer in a US organization called “Children of War Foundation”. During the previous days, outstanding surgeons from this organization were performing free operations on complex surgical cases at King Hussein Medical Center.

Dr. Andrew, along with his fellow American volunteers of the Children of War Foundation, gave lectures related to plastic surgery (You can see the schedule of this symposium at the events section of Medical Conferences in Jordan facebook page). They were very sophisticated lectures to the degree that I almost understood nothing! I am not embarrassed to say this because these guys were brought to Jordan, in the first place, to operate on inoperable cases that our Jordanian surgeons needed international experts to help them operate on!It was a nice experience. It is amazing to meet people whom every minute of their time counts! As long as these people are in Jordan, a smile is brought to the faces of many children and their families. Of interest, the team leader, a Japanese-American doctor, Dr. Mark M. Urata, said:

Not only the children or their parents are happy. Surgeons of the Jordanian Royal Medical Services should be happy too. Today, Dr. Andrew was not able to give his scheduled lecture. The reason? He didn’t have a voice! So, I could deduce easily how much explanation has Dr. Andrew been giving!

All in all, one stands in awe in front of people who are spending their precious time, time in which they can easily make thousands of dollars, to help children they don’t know… Not children of my relatives, my tribe, my country, my religion… the world’s children 🙂

Like this:

A banner hanged on one of the doors of the basic faculty building: Under the patronage of his Excellency the president of the university of Mu’tah\ Inauguration of the ninth scientific conference of the faculty of medicine\ Mu’tah University, 10-11/4/2013.

Today and yesterday, April 10-11th, 2013, the 9th scientific conference of our faculty took place. In it, for the second year in a row, I was a speaker. On behalf of some dear friends of mine, I presented a paper entitled:

A cross-sectional study on the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among patients hospitalized for complicated hypertension at two Jordanian Hospitals.

Yesterda I luckily had the chance of participating in a free medical day in Al-Aghwar Al-Janobieh organized by my faculty. This event was under the patronage the head of Mu’tah University, Dr. Abd Al-Rahman Al-Hneati.

[Photo: A speech at the opening ceremony]

Out of 800+ medical studnets in Mu’tah University, I was the only one who participated in this activity. I don’t know why other students were not invited. Personally, I was invited by Dr. Khaleel Al-Salem, my Ophthalmology doctor in Mu’tah University (Thank you my dear doctor!). It felt weird to be the only student. Therefore, I believe that my invitation was a mistake… A beautiful mistake though!

Most of the patients were femlaes and children. Most interstingly, and for the first time in my life, I saw children as young as 9 or 10 years seeking medical advice without any adult accompanying them; not a parent, a grandparent, an older sibling, etc.

I attended the Ophthalmology clinic with Dr. Khalil. He examined about 20-30 patients. He freely distributed medications which he brought with him. The number of patients in other clinics was larger. I don’t how much larger, but here is a comment that has been made in a Jordanian website from a person who called himself “a participant in the free medical day”:

More than 100 patients have been seen in the dermatology clinic alone by Dr. Khetam Al-Rfooa, and about 50 patients by Dr. Seham… and others…